FIS race courses designed

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 251, 19 July 1988, Page 1

FIS race courses designed

Turoa Skifields have designed and named two courses for the BP-Europa FIS series to be held on the mountain August 1013. Men's teams from up to four overseas countries are expected to attend the Continental Cup-class event which is second only in importance to the World Cup for skiing. The giant slalom, named Tahurangi, starts at 2300 metres just east of the offloading area of Turoa's new Moro Race T-bar. It keeps to the eastern side of the Moro Race lift and follows the Main Trunk trail to the finish area to the west and just above the Jumbo T-bar drive station. In all, the giant slalom drops over 350 metres and, according to Turoa's chief qf race and director of skiing Mr John Ball, promises some excellent racing. "The terrain is excellent for the giant slalom as there is con-

siderable variation. The course has natural sweeping traverses, some steep pitches, some flat." The slalom for the series, named Girdlestone, starts at 2100 metres on the flat just

before the pitch begins on the Raceline trail, turning three or four times before the pitch and dropping 150 metres to the common finish with the giant slalom. "The steep pitch of

the Girdlestone course will make the slalom event an exciting one for competing racers and spectators alike," Mr Ball predicts. As Turoa prepares for an influx of North Americans, Norwe-

gians, Australians and other nationals, plans are well advanced at nearby Ohakune t o launch the series in grand style with a carnival street parade and opening on Saturday August 6.